On Monday morning not too long ago, I braced myself for adeluge of email. I had not switched on my computer for threedays and just knew I would have a couple of hundred emails.

I was wrong. There were 486.

That afternoon, our postal carrier left a basket of mailthat must have weighed a couple of pounds.

'I need a vacation,' I muttered to myself. But that was theproblem. Monday was my first day back from one, and I vowedI would never take another.

I eventually came to my senses, but I still tend to think oftime away from business with a mix of excitement and dread.And those feelings are looming large right now as Ianticipate my daughter's holiday break from school - whichthis year, lasts for three long weeks.

The December holidays were one of the reasons I opted for awork-at-home lifestyle. When I worked outside the home as acorporate event planner, our first big convention of theyear always occurred the second week of January. This meantI had to work 10 hours a day, six days a week each December(although I got Christmas and New Year off). I resented thefact that everyone else was home decorating the house andbaking goodies, and vowed to be able to do that one day. Nowthat I'm a home based entrepreneur, I can keep that promiseto myself.

But as a one-person shop, I need to take steps to insurethat my business will still be here after the decorationshave been put away. Imagine the orders, customer servicecalls and income opportunities we miss by being away fromour posts for a couple of weeks!

The fortunate thing about a December break is that most ofthe Western world is occupied with the same things: holidayget-togethers, family activities and religious observance.All business slows down mid-December as people focus ontheir faith and families. The exception, of course, isChristmas shopping. If your business involves selling giftitems, you may not get a holiday break until December 25. Ifthat's the case, I suggest taking at least the week offbetween Christmas and New Year. A vacation - even a shortone - will allow you to recharge your mental batteries,resulting in increased energy and creativity on January 2. Itwill also help you avoid the feelings of resentment Iexperienced at that event planning job.

The trick to taking the time you need and starting back upsmoothly is in how you prepare your business for yourabsence. Here are some tips:

1. COMMUNICATION IS KEY

No matter when you begin your holiday break, you need to letyour clients know. Two weeks before any vacation, AngelaStrosnider of Virtual Office and Business Solutionsannounces it to her clients, relatives and others. 'I takethe laptop and check for any emergency mails as well.Besides that I make an autorespond message to all emailsabout when I'll return,' she says.

You need to communicate with your customers when you getback as well, especially when email replies have beendelayed for a few days due to your absence. 'People areunderstanding if you offer a reason for the long wait,' saysTerri Seymour of < http://www.websuccesscentral.com >

2. GIVE YOURSELF A WINDOW TO CATCH UP

'I've always thought that I should extend my vacation by twodays when telling others,' says Roberta Stubblefield of TheMom Team < http://RobertaS.themomteam.com > 'That way I canuse the two days to catch up on everything with theanswering machine on, then be ready to start out fresh.'

3. CONSIDER HIRING A BACKUP

A virtual assistant could be the answer to your vacationprayers, notes Kristie Lemauga, who happens to be the VA at < http://www.kksadministrative.com > Kristie suggests thatby forwarding your email to a live person instead of usingan autoresponder, your customers can have their needshandled in a personal manner. Kristie says that A VA canalso 'process any orders, info requests, data entry, andunsubscribes while you are away, take phone calls for yourbusiness, prepare your calender for your return, and assistwith administrative tasks ... so you can catch up in the areas that require your personal attention.'

4. MAKE A PLAYDATE FOR THE KIDS

As much as we love our children (and for many of us, theyare the reason we are working at home in the first place),they can also be a distraction. You'll catch up faster uponyour return if they're having fun outside the house. TerriSeymour arranges an overnight visit with their grandparents,but taking them to a playdate at the home of a trustedfriend may give you all the time you need to focus on your work. (Just be sure your friend knows you'll return thefavor soon!)

5. ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY!

Remember that you need your break! Bake those cookies -enjoy the parties - build a snowman with your kids and warmyourselves up next to a roaring fire. As Angela Strosnidersays, 'Working at home is a 24/7 job just like any otherwhen you add a house and family. Take a personal time-outwith you and your loved ones, and you will feel much betterabout working so much later.'

About the Author

Donna Schwartz Mills is the work-at-home parent behind theParentPreneur Club: http://parentpreneurclub.com/cgi-bin/art/vcDonna also edits NOBOSS Online, the newsletter for home-based entrepreneursdoing business on the web. To subscribe, send a blank emailto: online-subscribe@noboss.com.

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